A bizarre incident unfolded at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan, China, where a BYD sedan was caught on video circling wildly over 30 times in a parking lot—sparking fears of a vehicle malfunction or driver emergency. The unsettling scene prompted the dispatch of police, firefighters, and medical personnel.
The event occurred on Thursday, July 24, at 12:36 PM in a large open-air parking area near the airport. Footage shows the BYD Han sedan spinning in consistent, tight circles without any visible braking. The tires screeched loudly against the pavement, and onlookers watched in shock, with some calling emergency services in panic.
The video quickly went viral online, with some claiming the car was remotely controlled and that the driver was “frozen with fear.”
However, authorities later clarified the situation. According to a police statement released by the Sichuan Provincial Public Security Airport Bureau that evening, the 40-year-old male driver, surnamed Jiang, was a rideshare driver who became emotionally agitated after being unable to reach his arriving passenger for an extended time. In frustration, he began circling in the lot. No one else was in the car.
Police confirmed there were no injuries or property damage, and toxicology tests ruled out both alcohol and drug use.
BYD also responded on its official anti-rumor account, stating that the vehicle’s braking system was fully functional and the incident had nothing to do with mechanical failure. The company said the driver parked the vehicle safely on his own and that no collision or injury occurred. BYD also announced it would take legal action against individuals or media outlets spreading false information online.
